" What's the MATTER with you?!" Chyna yelled up to a couple of male clan members setting up some...thing. It looked like some platform or scaffold. Karasu and Kurama watched from several yards away, safe from the raging female or falling cloth and wood.
" You're sister's got personality," Kurama chuckled, taking a spoonful of something...similar to ice cream.
" She's talented." Karasu agreed, stealing a taste and sucking the drops from his fingers. His mask was wrapped around one of his wrists, making it convenient to eat and not worry about dropping it.
" Getting her to shut up is the REAL talent, though."
" Not much of a family man," Kurama smiled, pausing to swallow. " My goodness, this is delicious."
" Kinda like going to one of those Ningen Sate Fairs, ne?"
Kurama chuckled and glanced aside, seeing a little girl eying them. She looked about maybe 6-8....but was certainly much older...being youkai.
" Tell me, Karasu," He smiled, not taking his eyes off her, " do you know EVERYONE here?"
" Just about."
" Then, who's that little cutey?"
Karasu turned to look at the individual Kurama was curious about....and grew pale. He remained silent and still.
" Karasu?"
He slowly stood up, " I forgot...there's something I have..."
" TELL me before you go."
Chyna peered over and waved a hand. " Dawn, don't STARE at people! It's RUDE!"
" Dawn?" Kurama snickered. " As in....daughter Dawn?"
" HOW did..." Karasu gasped....." DAMN that Chyna."
Kurama smiled, " Go talk to her, Karasu."
" I can't."
" WHY?"
" This is NOT any of your concern!" With that....he turned and stormed off, not even looking back. Dawn ran across the intersection to come meet him...but stopped just short of Kurama as Karasu stormed away.
" Daddy," she muttered, seemingly very hurt, " you didn't even...say 'hi' to me."
Kurama, feeling a sudden urge to be maternal, reached out a hand to the girl. Her hair was very soft. Black with violet tendrils. Her eyes were a lovely deep blue.
" He seems to have a strange personality. Don't take it personally, Hun. He seems to treat everyone that way."
Dawn peered over at him...her innocent face looked sad and lonely. Oh, how much she looked like Karasu....yet with a sweet innocence long since lost in her father. " Who are you? Never saw you before?"
Her voice stabbed Kurama in the heart. Her voice was high, but not too high...and very innocent. Despite her age AND appearance, she spoke as if she were 3 or 4, skipping words...and yet...at the same time, displaying an intelligence that gave away the fact she was much older than she appeared.
" I'm Kurama."
" OHhhhhhhhh," she sighed, comcing to some realization. " You're Daddy's new...how you say....wife?"
Kurama blushed. How awkward was THIS? " It...depends on....how you look at it."
" So..." She gave a slight smile...very hopeful that lit up her face, " then....you're my new mommy?"
" I..."
She looked away, looking as if she were going to cry, " Or is he getting a new wife so he can forget ALL about me?"
Kurama, feeling no hesitation, nor showing it, picked Dawn up and sat her on his lap, " Dawn, I'm sure your daddy loves you VERY much. But he has some...problems."
" Problems?"
" Hai. Maybe he just PRETENDS not to see you. I know it doesn't make you feel any better. But, maybe he does that to protect you."
" Protect me?"
" His problems are...well...his. He doesn't want you to get involved and get hurt....or that's my guess. He ignores me sometimes when he's facing a bad day. I'm sure in time, he'll become ready to scoop you up and cuddle you like the little doll you are." He smiled as Dawn blushed, buying it all. " I know if you were MY daughter...you'd be very precious to me...and I would do ANYTHING to avoid hurting you."
Dawn beamed. Kurama continued....he just felt so drawn to this child. " Hey, if you ever want to talk...you can come to me. I'll be sure to talk to your daddy for you...and maybe you can just talk to me too."
Dawn giggled and hugged him, " Then, you're my Kurama-ma."
Kurama blushed again and released her, to let her play when he saw Chyna comeing over. " Looks like you made a friend."
" She's kawaii."
" Since Karasu stopped talking to her...her only parental guidance has actually been myself and Ryu. No one else seems to want to take the time for her.
" Ryu? Ryu seems to really care about everyone in this clan." Chyna nodded, " He loves all of us and has known most of us since birth...and grew up with others. It's his nature. He's very watchful and protective of the ones he cares about."
...
Chyna's earlier project led to a rather interesting evening. Kurama had been wondering about Chyna's abilities. Karasu never DID answer him on that. It was quite apparent though. A handful of youkai stood on the platform and released their youki into the air, creating colorful explosions....like fireworks.
" Amazing."
" I suppose."
" Karasu, I thought I was going to be the one isolating myself. But, you've been miserable since we arrived. What's wrong?"
" I have a lot on my mind." He paused. " I have something to tend to. You stay here."
Kurama was about to give a frusterated call after him when he felt a tug on his tunic. His eyes widened....Karasu saw....HER coming. THAT'S why he left....again. He peered down at and beaming Dawn as she glanced innocently up at him, " Kurama-ma....I can't SEE."
" You can't?"
" Never can. Daddy USED to put me on his shoulders."
Kurama smiled and picked her up, placing her on his shoulders, " Then you can just use MINE tonight."
...
Much later that evening, Kurama had wandered off to a lake, just outside of the "city" but still in the valley. Like everything else, it was lovely....and seemed rather warm when he placed a hand in.
" Tired of the crowd, Kurama?"
Kurama took his youko form and tested the water again. " I thought you were cruel BEFORE."
Karasu growled, " I HATE that form!"
" I know. It's why I take it."
" DAMMIT!" Karasu approached the youko, " Okay, WHY are you angry with me? You piss me off like this when I do something wrong or push a wrong button."
" I know about Naomi....about Aurora and about Dawn. Stop pretending they never existed."
" You don't know everything! Why do you care anyway?! We've been here three weeks and you act as if you've been a member of this clan forever. You've only known Dawn a few days and saw very little of her."
" More than you have." Youko retorted casually. " Let's say Suiichi has become rather attatched to that little ragga-muffin. Maybe....and don't quote ME as a reliable source," he replied mockingly, " just MAYBE he's thinking about asking to ADOPT her."
" Nani?!"
" You told me this gathering was about family...about your clan becoming whole again. Lately, you've done everything to CONTRADICT that. I'm more a member of this clan than you are by the looks of things. As for Suiichi, haven't you noticed how much family means to him? Why do you think he's such a mama's boy?"
Karasu took another step closer, " You have NO right..."
" NO! I DON'T! I'm not the one you sleep with. I'm not the one who likes you or even remotely CARES. I'm not the one dominated by you. But I AM the one who sits idle in the back of Suiichi's mind and watches everything...hears everything. I hate you. That's fine. That works for me. But, I suppose Suiichi and I are different."
Karasu was now only inches away. " I don't know if I could play house again. Everyone I've been close to has been hurt or killed."
" Big whoop." Youko snorted. " Keep up this attitude, you'll lose Suiichi too....who, for some bizaare reason, is actually very fond of you. Maybe this is the reason your FIRST mate left you."
Karasu bolted forward like a bullet out of a gun, catching Youko off guard. " You know NOTHING about my wife!"
The two engaged in a horrible battle....hand to hand. Karasu, though furious...didn't want to chance killing Suiichi in his rage against Youko. He had already swore to spare Suiichi's life. Youko was VERY much aware of this and spared no expense in taunting the youkai at every chance he recieved.
A flash of lightning separated them. Both looked up to see Ryu! He seemed to always be at the wrong place at the right time.
" Karasu, you ALWAYS manage to get yourself in trouble. Who's THIS?!"
" I'm the Dark half," Youko snickered. Ryu narrowed his eyes defensively then glanced at Karasu, " Son, is there something we need to talk about?"
Karasu stood up, " No, Sir. It's just Kurama. He's not Ningen. He's youkai too. This is his true form....kinda."
Ryu glanced back at Youko who had more respect for Ryu than Karasu...and took the form of Suiichi again.
" My children SURE know how to pick em," Ryu muttered.
" CHILDREN?!"
" Haven't you figured it out, yet?!" Karasu hissed, still furious with Kurama's other self. " Ryu isn't some clan brown-nosed father- figure. I'm not just plain popular! Ryu is my FATHER!"
Next Chapter
Back to Fanwork
Home
